Patent · US Active

Apparatus for removing a contaminant from a solvent separation process

US8696871B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
20References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 19, 2010
Grant dateApr 15, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10G21/28
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention is a process and apparatus for removing a contaminant from an aromatic selective solvent. A feed stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and a non-aromatic hydrocarbon is contacted with the aromatic selective solvent in an extractive distillation zone to produce a raffinate stream comprising the non-aromatic hydrocarbon, and a rich solvent stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon and the solvent. The rich solvent stream is separated in a second distillation zone to produce an extract stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon, and a lean solvent stream comprising the contaminant and the aromatic selective solvent. At least a portion of the lean solvent stream is washed with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon to produce a clean solvent stream, at least a portion of which is passed to at least one of the extractive distillation zone and the second distillation zone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.